Today Sucks

I got up early and put a yummy sunday meal into the crock pot. Thinking that YAY something good to have later and I didn't really even have to work at it very hard.

Then about an hour later, I get a call from my brother.

BAM

My dad's in the hospital.

Luckily I have a best friend who works in that ER. She's at the beach in florida but that that did not keep her from calling up there  and making sure they knew who he was and to take care of him.

I have nothing but respect for nurses. Their job is hard, they work very hard and get little thanks. They see so many patients that it gets to be routine and sometimes people can start to become numbers. I don't ever want someone I love to be just another number on a chart. I wanted them to see him as a person.

So she called up there, made sure he had a good doctor and made sure he got a on a good floor with good nurses.

Have I mentioned that I love my best friend.

Well I do, she's amazing.

Dad's CHF has flared, his kidneys are sucking. He's stable but we don't really know what is going to happen. If it's good, his CHF will straighten out, his numbers will come down and he'll be able to go home.

Let's pray for that outcome.

Gunmetal Magic

ilona-andrews.com

I love, love, love the Kate Daniels series written by the husband-wife duo known as Ilona Andrews. Gunmetal Magic is set in the Kate Daniel universe. Instead of following Kate we are seeing the world the Andrea Nash's eyes. Andrea has been Kate's bff for most of the series and she is pretty badass. Where Kate wields a sword, Andrea can take out a target either up close and personal or far away all sniper style.

Andrea has issues. She had an abusive past, mistreated by her clan (they set her on fire as a kid, I don't know how much more effed up of a childhood you could manage). She is beastkin and not a regular shifter, so she's often shunned. She was playing at being human and got outed during the last book. She is also on the outs with her mate. There is plenty there to make this book work. To make it interesting.

I read on the author's page that many people felt it was too short. At first I thought the same thing, but she's right it's just as long if not longer than many of her other books. It just goes at such a good pace, that it doesn't feel that long.

I enjoyed this book. I loved the resolution, I loved the continuation of the story line, I loved finding out more about Andrea and I loved seeing a character have actual growth. Many times during a series, it takes forever for a character to just "grow up". Not here. She gets it, she has to make changes, she has to take responsibility for her actions. It was refreshing after reading countless books this summer where the characters seem to never learn from their past, never change their game.

I don't want to forget to mention, but this book is also funny. There's plenty of "heh" moments. It is smartly written and rather enjoyable all around. I would suggest you read the entire series from the beginning or you won't fully appreciate everything that is going on during the course of the story. Seriously, you'll wonder who is this "volhv".

I give this book a solid A.